Sexual assault nets doctor 4 years

An Amarillo jury sentenced a local chiropractor late Thursday night to four years in prison and 20 years probation for sexual assault charges.

Eric Anthony Yarbrough, 41, pleaded guilty Tuesday to four counts of attempted sexual assault and one count of sexual assault of a child.

He opted for an 181st District Court jury to assess his sentences, which will run concurrently. Three women accused Yarbrough of various sexual assaults starting in 2006, according to the May 2010 indictments.

Yarbrough asked the jury of six men and six women to sentence him to probation and mandatory sex offender treatment.

Prosecutors wanted the jury to deliver the maximum sentence for each charge, which includes 10 years in prison for each attempted assault charge and 20 years for the assault of a child charge.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Yarbrough said.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I’ve been unprofessional.”

The defendant’s attorney, Bill Kelly, said his client has taken responsibility for his actions.

“The defendant never said it was the victims’ fault, in part or in full,” Kelly said.

Yarbrough said he was remorseful for the assaults, addressing each of the women’s cases individually when prosecutors questioned him.